Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

It's long been an open secret that after TCU joined the Big East as the conference's ninth football member, the league's top choice for a 10th member was original member in all-other-sports Villanova.

But how committed is the conference to that choice? Based on the timetable established today in an open letter from President Father Peter Donahue, committed enough that they're unfazed by that timetable coming with something of a sticker shock (emphasis added):

January 2011: Continued community meetings, stakeholder dialogue, and research and analyses

February 2011: Board of Trustees meeting; discussion of research findings to-date

That's right: even with an open invitation on the table that an awful lot of schools would rename their biology buildings "Big East Hall" for, the Wildcats won't come to a final decision for another four months.

So why is 'Nova permitted to take its time when so many other conference alignment decisions in the past year's reshuffling have been made on the fly? Because while the leap from FCS directly into a BCS league wouldn't be easy for any program, there's several reasons to think the Wildcats can make it work: a well-established championship program at the FCS level; an administration with a history of overseeing and supporting successful athletics programs; and maybe most key of all, their location squarely in the middle of a major Eastern metropolitan area without a prominent college football team to follow. (No, Temple doesn't count.) If UConn can become a viable BCS-level program, there's zero reason to think 'Nova can't.

As long as 'Nova offers the league the chance to add that kind of football program without burdening the already badly-overstuffed basketball collective and bring Philadephia into the fold in the process, the conference -- apparently -- will be willing to wait.

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

Thanks for your insight the best value when considering sharing with us this great subject matter! Searching upfront which will seeintg greater!

Since: Oct 7, 2006

Posted on: December 18, 2010 2:55 pm

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

The northeast really could give a rats behind about college football.

Where does that statement come from and who made you spokeman for the northeast? I completely disagree with this statemant and feel that college football is as relevant in the NE as it is everywhere else in the country. I should say I think the northeast proabaly appreciates GOOD college football, big least football may be a different story.

Since: Aug 18, 2010

Posted on: December 17, 2010 12:58 pm

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

Newsflash!!!The northeast really could give a rats behind about college football. The fact that there are millions of TV sets there mean nothing if people are not watching college football on them. Why would the BE think adding Villanova would bring anything to the table. The conference has become a joke. TCU was a good addition, but they should have come with Houston or Central Florida, not Nova.

Since: May 14, 2008

Posted on: December 17, 2010 12:37 pm

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

Average attendance at villanova last year, 2009, their big National Championship year, around 7500 in a stadium that would struggle to reach 12,000. In a tight, old rich, suburban setting(Philly Mainline).

So far UConn has reportedly ONLY sold 4000 tickets for their Fiesta Bowl. wow. How exciting. It would make more sense for Delaware to upgrade from their regular 20K+ attendance to MAC. Or even beg Temple to come back to the Big East.

Villanova had stated back in 1979 that their goal was to become "the Notre Dame of the East". After one game with Penn State they refused any more matchups. Their players wouldn't play. Too much physical abuse and injuries to be worth it. Hence, Penn State was not voted into the Big East in 1982. They fell 1 vote shy of acceptance. I wonder who that 1 vote was?

Since: Oct 23, 2009

Posted on: December 17, 2010 10:56 am

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

I think Villanova decides before April to move up, I can also see them not move up either. They have a rivalry with Delaware, which should move to FBS and join the MAC with Massachusettes, (The MAC could eventually split in two with the coastal teams forming a conference.

UCF, Houston, Memphis join.The Basketball schools should split and form their own conference.I like the old yankee conference but all those schools split ways decades ago, I wouldnt mind if they all came together whether they play football or not.

Since: Dec 17, 2010

Posted on: December 17, 2010 9:49 am

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

U Conn can't sell 12,000 tickets to the BCS game.....I can't wait for VIllanova to join the Big East............I can see it now .......Villanova home game draws 12,000 fans with half of those free tickets to students that pay an activities fee. Can't the Big East do better??

Since: Oct 7, 2006

Posted on: December 17, 2010 8:48 am

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

tbrown is right, the domers aren't coming. ND would probably go big10 if they went anywhere, but they still have that arogence going thinking they won't ever need anybody, so just leave them out there in the wind and move on. It may take a few years to build a legit contender, but it is worth a shot. I think the novelty and scheduling some big draw programs will guarantee attendence, but where will they play? The Linc? Are they allowed since Temple uses that stadium? Get PSU on the schedule, you will be assured of sell outs.

Since: Dec 10, 2007

Posted on: December 17, 2010 12:43 am

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

What about UCF? Ranked #25 in the BCS poll, and on the verge of being ranked in basketball. The baseball and soccer teams also do fairly well. Also gives the Big East an even stronger foothold in the Florida markets, brings in a nice rivalry game with USF.

IMHO, the Big East should just go ahead and expand to 12 teams. UCF, Houston, and either East Carolina/Memphis.

Forget about Notre Dame. They aren't going to join the BE for football, period. Ain't gonna happen, end of story. Notre Dame already has an agreement with the Big East for bowl games. Notre Dame doesn't want to be in a conference for football. If they did, they would be joining the Big Ten instead of Nebraska.

Since: Oct 8, 2006

Posted on: December 16, 2010 9:10 pm

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

Navy? Army? Houston? Memphis? For football? Are you serious? Give me a break. Notre Dame is the team that the Big East needs in football, and it makes sense, since they are a member in the other sports.

Since: Oct 8, 2006

Posted on: December 16, 2010 9:08 pm

Villanova deciding on Big East football in April

I think the Big East should continue to pursue Notre Dame. Villanova football cannot hang with the big boys at the BCS level, and they surely can't fill up a real stadium with a 6,000 student population. It would be a joke. As a Nova alum, I can confidently voice that opinion. Sure, Nova will produce an NFL gem once every decade or two, but so does your local community college.